Pregnant Women Advised to Seek Antenatal Care

Pregnant women have been advised to seek antenatal care and also deliver at health facilities to safeguard their health.

Men have also been called upon to be compassionate and support their wives in times of pregnancy.

Mr. Duut Bedima, Tano South District health Director said this during the district's 2005 annual health performance review meeting held at Bechem.

The district health director noted that while many pregnant women attended clinics, a significant number of them did not deliver at health facilities.

Mr Bedima said “while antenatal care is 95%, only 60% of those who attended antenatal delivered at health facilities.

This is a drawback to the achievement of MDG's”.

He gave the assurance that the district health directorate would expand its outreach services and open community health and services compounds to address the problem.

He observed that “it is still unfortunate that women continue to loose their lives in the performance of their social and biological functions”.

Mr Bedima stated that maternal mortality in the district reduced from eleven in 2004 to six in 2005 adding that the district is aiming at zero maternal deaths in 2006.

He gave the assurance that the district health directorate would strengthen the capacity of midwives and Traditional Birth Attendants(TBA's) in 2006.